Hello, and welcome to the site for the Jaris Reed Group!
This group is dedicated to the preservation of “Jazz, America’s Classical Music”. This is uniquely accomplished by utilizing documentaries produced by Jaris Productions then using them as instructional tools for children in schools nationwide. Jaris also teaches a small group of select young adults the art of documentary film making. Masters who are exceptional architects in their craft of entertainment are the subjects. From actors, producers and directors from the motion picture industry to members of Congress have heralded this project as truly innovative and motivating.”
This project was formulated in the late eighties.In the early 90’s, a working partnership with European professionals in the music industry was formed. Jaris founder Reed I. Hadley traveled throughout Europe producing rare on-location interviews with artists like The JazzCrusaders featuring Wayne Henderson and Wilson Felder in Monaco, France and a variety of others including legendary drummer Chico Hamilton, Saxophonist Ronnie Laws, Vocalist Carmen Lundy and others in London, England. These interviews were choreographed through the graciousness of Yellow Go-Rilla Productions Ltd. in the UK in the mid 90’s through a working relationship with CEO Dennis E. Armstead.
In 1993, Jaris started its radio series”Europe’s Jazz Profiles” with the late, Great, Grover Washington Jr. Based in St. Louis, it continued the quest for completion of its “Sax Pack” phase of the series. The participation of Ronnie Laws was sought, thus beginning the relationship of Jaris and Yellow Go-Rilla. To date, Jaris has gone on to include vocal legend Nancy Wilson, who offically retired September 2011 after 60 years in the industry and the late silky voice of Joe Williams, affectionately adopted by Count Basie as his #1 Son. They flourished under the management of John Levy Enterprises and many more.
Jaris now takes its concept to the educational level through its association with JEN (Jazz Educational Network), 100 Black Men (Los Angeles Chapter), Jazz Mobile (NY), founded by the late, great Jazz advocate/premier media personality composer/musician extraordinaire William “Billy” Taylor and the recent association with IMPG, LTD International Motion Picture Group based in Tokyo, Japan. Jaris continues its quest to promote Jazz education through the initiation of its “History of Jazz Series” starting in Japan.
In May 2009, their first video shoot took place with the Tokyo Jazz Festival as its subject.Festival Producer Atsuko Yashima invited Reed into his NHK office for an in-depth interview on how they could produce the largest Jazz festival in Asia. In September of the same year, Alto Sax Master Lou “Sweet Papa” Donaldson and new vocal sensation China Moses were interviewed from the beautiful venue of Tokyo International Hall, housing more than 4,000 fans of all ages.
In 2010, Jaris videotaped its next show from the famed NY jazz spot Birdland again with Lou as the subject. Currently, other projects are in the works as we launch our NPO group to further promote America’s Classical Music! A new crop of young firebrand musicians are coming along.
To donate to our project,
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Visit our friends at Yellow Go-Rilla:
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